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'''David Joseph Kelly''' (born 1 July 1962) is an Australian politician who has been a member of Legislative Assembly of Western Australia since 2013, representing the seat of Bassendean.

In the McGowan Ministry, he was Minister for Water, Minister for Fisheries, Minister for Forestry, Minister for Innovation and ICT, and Minister for Science from August 2017 until 8 December 2022 when he resigned so that a woman could be given these ministries in his place.<ref>https://www.news.com.au/national/western-australia/wa-premier-mark-mcgowan-forces-minister-dave-kelly-to-quit-cabinet/news-story/2610771d1f7f40210ed1949f1cfefb53</ref>

== Early Life ==

Kelly was born in Perth, and graduated from the University of Western Australia with a Bachelor of Arts degree.<ref>http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/parliament/library/MPHistoricalData.nsf/MemberNames/Kelly,%20David%20(Dave)%20Joseph?OpenDocument</ref> Prior to entering politics, he worked for a trade union, United Voice, for 20 years, including as state secretary for 10 years.

== Political Career ==

Kelly entered parliament at the 2013 state election, replacing the retiring member, Martin Whitely, in the safe Labor seat of Bassendean. At the time of his election, he was living in the suburb of Bayswater.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/elections/wa/2013/guide/bass.htm</ref> A month after entering parliament, Kelly was included in the reconstituted shadow ministry led by Mark McGowan.  He has been described as a "factional boss" and left-faction powerbroker".<ref>http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-18/how-stephen-smith-challenge-failed-for-wa-leadership/7258480</ref><ref>http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-17/colin-barnett-goads-mark-mcgowan-failed-labor-leadership-coup/7254656</ref>

On 27 February 2022 Kelly became the first Western Australian politician to acknowledge he had tested positive to COVID-19, making the announcement via Twitter.<ref>https://twitter.com/davekellymp/status/1497751227681378304</ref>

On 8 December 2022 Kelly announced his resignation from cabinet to make way for more female representation, following a request from the Premier, [[Mark McGowan]].<ref>https://www.news.com.au/national/western-australia/wa-premier-mark-mcgowan-forces-minister-dave-kelly-to-quit-cabinet/news-story/2610771d1f7f40210ed1949f1cfefb53</ref>

== See Also ==

*[[Mark McGowan]]

== External Links ==

*[https://www.news.com.au/national/western-australia/wa-premier-mark-mcgowan-forces-minister-dave-kelly-to-quit-cabinet/news-story/2610771d1f7f40210ed1949f1cfefb53 Resignation]

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== References ==

[[Category: Australia]]
[[Category: Biographies]]
[[Category: Featured Articles]]
[[Category: Politics]]
[[Category: Wikipedia]]